Caliente Cab Company, a Mexican restaurant known for its enormous margaritas and checker-cab decor, did not immediately return a call for comment.

Farmer said the bouncer escorted her to her table and forced her party to pay their check and leave.

"I felt embarrassed and humiliated," said Farmer, a Manhattan resident who works as a counselor at a residential program for people with disabilities. "I'm just hurt that even my wanting to prove that I'm female wasn't enough."

Farmer is being represented by the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is demanding that the restaurant train its staff not to discriminate on the basis of gender identity and expression.

New York City law prevents discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

Farmer is not a transgender person, but she said her appearance is masculine enough that she is sometimes mistaken for a man.

"I'm never upset with that," she said. "I say very kindly, 'I'm female.' Usually I get, 'I'm so sorry."'